The Warringah Verdict

An Accident Waiting To Happen

eptember 30, 2003 will go down as a landmark day for all Australian golf clubs and course superintendents. It was on this day that Justice Talbot of the New South Wales Land and Environment Court (LEC) imposed fines and costs approaching $600,000 against the Warringah Golf Club after finding it negligent for its role in a pesticide spill which lead to a major ecological disaster in the Manly Lagoon in 2001. The sentence came three months after Justice Cowdroy, also of the LEC, sentenced former Warringah superintendent Craig Coggins to 250 hours of community service and ordered him to pay costs of up to $50,000 for his part in the incident which killed 4.16 tonnes of marine and bird life. Slowly but surely the news of the verdicts has sent shockwaves through the industry considering the extent of the fines and the ramifications the judgements have for not only superintendents but golf clubs as well. While the ruling against Coggins has alarmed superintendents and raised issues of professionalism, it is the judgment against the golf club itself that makes for more interesting reading. In handing down his decision, Justice Talbot launched a scathing attack on the club, stressing that the condition of the superintendents compound was "an accident waiting to happen" and added "if appropriate and effective physical barriers, systems and procedures had been in place, the discharge of the poison would not have occurred". He added: "the description of the defendants (Warringah Golf Club) failure to appreciate its obligations cannot be confined to gross incompetence. The actions were more heinous than that. "It was emphatically and utterly foreseeable that the conditions were totally inadequate to deal with even sporadic handling of dangerous toxic compounds in close proximity to a sensitive waterway." In fining the club $250,000 and ordering it to pay costs and undertake further works, Justice Talbot said the court should send "a powerful message to sporting club operators, and in particular, golf clubs, that mismanagement or, particularly as in this case, abandonment of environmental responsibility will lead to condign punishment". "There was a blatant disregard of a responsibility to conduct the clubs affairs in a manner that paid due regard to the protection of the environment. "The general deterrent aspect of this sentence is important because the elements of this offence are not exclusive to golf clubs.

Over 10,000 fish were killed as a result of the February 2001 pesticide spill at the Warringah Golf Club, an accident which cost the club $600,000 and its former superintendent 250 hours of community service

ATM Editor Brett Robinson surveys the fallout from the landmark Warringah Golf Club verdict and examines what one of the biggest legal decisions ever against an Australian golf course means for superintendents.

Photos courtesy of Martin Lange, Manly Daily News and Warringah City Council

Numerous entities utilise herbicides and pesticides in the course of their business." The outcome is unfortunately a black mark against an industry that has been striving for a number of years to raise its level of environmental awareness and stewardship. It also detracts from the achievements of courses that have won environmental awards and Audubon certification. The publicity surrounding the accident was high due to the visible manifestation of pollution the spill caused, not to mention the fact that the course is located in the middle of Australias largest city. On top of that, the waterway affected was and still is the subject of a major environmental clean-up program that involves local community groups and authorities. For those that are unfamiliar with the two cases, it breaks down like this. On 12 February 2001, then Warringah superintendent Craig Coggins instructed one of his staff to spray greens with an insecticide called Gusathion, a Schedule 7 poison, in an attempt to contain an outbreak of Argentine Stem Weevil. The tractor spray unit which ironically is still in use at the club today broke down and after failed attempts to get it working, Coggins instructed a member of his staff to empty the contents of the sprayer directly onto a concrete slab in the compound to ascertain the fault. The slab had no bunding. This was despite several failed attempts by Coggins to get the club to install such a precaution. Coggins then hosed the chemical solution off the slab which then entered a nearby stormwater grate that fed directly into nearby Brookvale Creek, a tributary of the Manly Lagoon. The outcome was disastrous. Some 10,000 fish were killed and 4.16 tonnes of dead marine and animal life were colleted in the aftermath. The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) became involved and both Coggins and the club were charged for negligently causing harm to the environment, a tier one offence which carries severe penalties. This is a very simple explanation of the case and the full judgements can be read by visiting the LEC website (see details on page 8). Also on page 11, Countdown to a Catastrophe details the timeline of events leading up to the accident. Predictably, industry reaction to the verdicts has been wide and varied with some supporting Coggins assertion that he was made a scapegoat by the club, while others have labelled it a long-overdue wake up call the industry needed.

BRETT ROBINSON
"Now I know that this is against the principals of some superintendents to sit down in an office and start doing paper work. But they need to look at washdown bays, runoff areas, waterways, and any areas of environmental concern. "They need to identify them, prioritise them, go to their committee and inform them that these issues need addressing and put a figure against them. "Thats going to have to happen. If they dont start putting this sort of the thing in place and have documentation that shows they are trying their best, or perceived to be doing their best, they are going to fall over in a big way." Adds AGCSA Board member and Kingston Heath Golf Club superintendent Martin Greenwood: "It should be a wake-up call for superintendents in all aspects of their job, not just in the way they handle pesticides but in respects to the paper trail. "Documentation is such a crucial thing nowadays. Superintendents should get into a regime of documenting and getting reports minuted at official meetings to cover themselves." Couchman says the verdicts provide perfect ammunition for superintendents to put in front of committees to support their calls for improved facilities and practices, particularly for those superintendents that are encountering board-level resistance. "It is a big wake-up call for the committees," says Couchman. "They have got to realise that a shell be right attitude is not acceptable. "Thats where it comes back to the superintendent. They have to make sure they stand up and request that reports be minuted at meetings and know their rights in the committee room. "If they put a proposal forward, which is clearly a workplace safety or environmental issue, or any issue that has ramifications on the superintendent personally, and the board says no they need to be able to say Please minute that." If superintendents need any motivation to take heed of this saga they only need to look at the personal impact the whole thing has had on Coggins. While the club will absorb the financial burden in time, the emotional scars inflicted on Coggins will take a long time to heal. According to court documents, Coggins incurred $220,000 in legal fees relating to the proceedings, investigations of the fish kill and unfair dismissal proceedings (Coggins was initially sacked after the incident but was reinstated on grounds of unfair dismissal. However, he subsequently resigned from the club.) Coggins was forced to sell his Sydney house and relocate his family to Coffs Harbour, while his retired parents loaned $100,000 to help fund the legal battle.

Council clean-up crews begin the grizzly task of retrieving dead marine and bird life from Manly Lagoon the day after the spill

"Certainly in NSW it has put the wind up everybody and guys that may not have been weary of the potential of something like this happening have been put on notice," says AGCSA Board member Martyn Black. Adds AGCSA president Mark Couchman: "Id hate to think it has given the industry a bad image but it is certainly a wake-up call. We need more accountability. "I dont think the EPA will come down harder on golf courses, but they will be more aware of what we do and the potentials of what could happen. Everyone is waiting for a knock on the door." Whatever reactions have been, the saga has become case law. It is now up to clubs and individual superintendents whether they make themselves aware of the findings, their ramifications and the lessons that can be applied. A common thread throughout the industry so far has been to use the incident as a learning experience.

up their pesticide tanks from, where they dump their residues, training staff and trying to improve all their maintenance practices in and around chemical safety," says NSWGCSA president Craig Easton. More importantly, however, the saga highlights professionalism in terms of the way superintendents conduct business at board and committee level and adapting to the changing nature of the job. "Superintendents must pass these findings on to their boards, because it specifically states that the board was more negligent due it its inaction," says Easton, superintendent at Carnarvon Golf Club.

A HUGE WAKE-UP CALL

So what can be learnt from this whole saga? Lets break it down into two distinct points of view that of the superintendent and that of the club. Superintendents For superintendents the verdicts have raised the issue of professionalism in respects of the dayto-day running of the shed and what happens out on the course through to ensuring that environmental management plans are in place, making sure that staff are trained and familiar with policies, and being aware of legislation and guidelines. "The response has been for superintendents to change their practices about where they fill

Warringah Golf Club

"Superintendents now have to become more proactive and not wait for their committee to ask them to put procedures in place.

The Warringah Verdict An Accident Waiting To Happen

Not surprisingly Coggins suffered severe emotional stress as a consequence of the offence and resulting legal battle, which has been exacerbated by his sentiment that he has been made a scapegoat for the actions of other persons. Despite this, however, the LEC said that such changes to the lives of Coggins and his family did not constitute extreme and exceptional hardship to warrant a more lenient penalty. ATM attempted to contact Coggins and left a number of messages but received no reply before deadline. ATM understands that Coggins has since completed his community service requirements and is working in the landscaping industry. Golf Clubs For golf clubs, the verdicts reinforce the need to operate according to best practices right across the facility, whether it is in the clubhouse or out in the shed. Boards need to be proactive, be involved and have expert knowledge of operations and polices at all levels. Communication channels need to be efficient and effective, while there needs to be consistency and accountability. One of the positive things that may result from the case is the shattering of the commonplace attitude held by many boards that there is a shed on the course which house blokes who just cut the grass. The verdicts also highlight that boards are just as liable as superintendents if something does go wrong on the course, and that the financial ramifications can be crippling. As Greenwood sums it up best, in this case "there are a lot of zeros for boards to ignore".

The Warringah Verdict

What the Courts had to Say
13: The evidence shows that a draft

JUSTICE TALBOT
(EPA v Warringah Golf Club)

environmental policy and a master plan for the golf course were essentially not acted upon. Furthermore, the president has given evidence that the board had in recent years focussed on other matters in the belief that they had no responsibility in respect of environmental matters and that it was entitled to delegate such responsibilities to management employees." 14: "the description of the defendant's failure to appreciate its obligations cannot be confined to gross incompetence. The actions were more heinous than that. It was emphatically and utterly foreseeable that the conditions were totally inadequate to deal with even sporadic handling of dangerous toxic compounds in close proximity to a sensitive waterway." 17: The Court is convinced that a clear message must be sent to non-profit entities operating public facilities that they are equally liable to punishment The general deterrent aspect of this sentence is important because the elements of this offence are not exclusive to golf clubs. Numerous entities utilise herbicides and pesticides in the course of their business." 18: " the Court should send a powerful message to sporting club operators, and in particular, golf clubs, that mismanagement or, particularly as in this case, abandonment of environmental responsibility will lead to condign punishment." 19: "There is justification for specific deterrence in this case. The club, through its board and management, never seriously addressed the issue of environmental responsibility. Some preliminary positive steps have now been taken in that regard but future, as well as present, board members must be made aware that the consequences of a re-occurrence could be catastrophic to the financial viability of the club."

JUSTICE COWDROY
(EPA v Craig Coggins)

4: "It is appropriate to repeat my primary findings on guilt of the judgment delivered on 19 June 2003: 71: "The primary offence was caused by either the wilful or negligent act of Mr Coggins in hosing the poisonous substance off the concrete slab under conditions where there were no adequate measures in place to prevent a discharge to the creek." 72: "The conditions that gave rise to the commission of the offence by Mr Coggins are the state of the greenkeepers compound and associated buildings, including, in particular, a workshop, chemical store and concrete slab" 7: "The prosecutors submission, that the condition of the greenkeepers compound made it "the site of an accident waiting to happen", is adopted by the Court." 11: "The Court found that WGC was negligent in material respects by omitting to take reasonable steps to prevent the escape of a dangerous substance from its premises and thereby contributed to the conditions that gave rise to the commission of the offence ... The contribution by WGC is the essential ingredient of the offence. 12: "The contribution to the conditions at the greenkeepers compound had direct consequence for the environment. If appropriate and effective physical barriers, systems and procedures had been in place the discharge of the poison would not have occurred. It was the sole responsibility of WGC to provide the conditions that prevent escape of dangerous substances from its premises. In that sense the club's negligent omission was the prime cause of harm to the environment."

30: " the defendant does not regard himself solely to blame for the environmental damage resulting from the offence. The defendant refers particularly to the failure on the part of the club to install the appropriate bunding around the workshop area. The defendant maintains that the club rejected the requests to provide bunding. In response, the management of the club declined such claiming that there were insufficient funds " 42: "The defendant, but for this offence, has proven to be a responsible citizen, and a person who has been held in the highest regard by his peers. The defendant's antecedents, good character and employment record mitigate heavily in his favour." 45: The prosecutor initially submitted that the defendant had not co-operated with the investigators. When the environmental damage resulting from the offence was discovered the defendant gave a false account of the circumstances leading to the offence. The Court is satisfied that the defendant provided the false account because of his fear of the consequences of his actions To his credit, he confessed within a matter of days.

To view the full judgements of both cases log on to the Land and Environment Court website through www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au. Go to NSW Courts and Tribunals, then Judgements, then Land and Environment Court. Click on 2003 which brings up all judgements. Warringah Golf Club is Case No.222 and Coggins is Case No.111.

The Warringah Verdict An Accident Waiting To Happen

"Our primary concern in this case was that the club did not have appropriate environment controls in place. For something like $7000 they could have had some simple precautions that could have gone a long way to preventing the incident. "Its vital to send a message to anyone using agricultural chemicals that they do pose significant threats to the environment and community and to make sure that their environmental controls are absolutely up to scratch. "As of now, simply pointing to this case would be strong motivation for all golf course managers that they do have their environmental controls in place given the severe penalties that can occur if you dont." Easton adds that the case would have opened a lot of eyes up at board level and that it is important they act upon the findings. "Ive emailed the findings to my president and automatically he mailed that to the board. Theres no doubt that it has started a process in NSW to ensure that clubs put policies in place," says Easton "It was sad for Warringah Golf Club but it was probably the kick in the seat the industry needed because a lot of clubs have acted too slowly on what the EPA and others have stated for a long time - if you dont get into line you will be fined. "I would say about one per cent of golf courses have the correct procedures in place at the moment, but I guarantee that now it will go up one per cent every week." Concerns While there are many positives for the industry to take out of this case, confusion still exists around the exact guidelines superintendents should follow in order to make sure they are environmentally compliant. By imposing a massive fine on Warringah, the courts have sent a powerful message to every golf course that it is imperative they comply. However, there are no specific EPA guidelines relating to golf courses and ultimately golf courses must comply with council guidelines. In this particular case the EPA was not the regulatory authority but became involved due to the nature of the offence and the huge environmental consequences. This somewhat confusing situation is a major concern according to Easton and one which he says needs to be rectified. "There needs to be improved communication," says Easton. "There are no specific guidelines, no standardised formats for the construction of chemical washdown bays and chemical containment facilities. Golf courses are expected to comply with EPA guidelines yet the EPA does not afford the industry standardised plans. "Its up to the golf course, bowling club, turf management facility to go out there from scratch and try and work out what the EPA requires. That makes it very difficult and extremely expensive. "It has the potential to destabilise the financial situation of some clubs and thats a major concern with some clubs, especially in the country, already teetering on the edge after being affected by poker machine tax and water licence issues. "I just dont think the EPA gives us enough ammunition to cover ourselves." Easton says it is imperative that the EPA, councils and superintendents associations communicate more effectively to keep the industry abreast of any legislative requirements or changes. He says that during his term as NSWGCSA president he will attempt to work with the EPA a lot more and "come up with a standardised format that is inexpensive, that can be utilised for the benefit of not only the environment but the golf course as well". "We need to be proactive. We need to work with the EPA rather than have them come to us. We need to contact them and not be scared of the EPA. Theres a lot of great work that superintendents and the associations have done and they are aware of that. They can see that as an industry we have changed a lot and put in a big effort as far as environmental issues are concerned." The other concern is that the likes of country clubs in NSW lack the manpower and financial resources to not only conduct environmental risk assessments but to implement the outcomes. "Its not going to be easy," says Easton. "A lot of clubs will be putting together documentation that will outline their fiscal constraints and how much they can then direct towards OH&S, environmental matters and then prioritise them and tick them off as they go along. "But there are a lot of clubs out there that dont have the financial means to implement a lot of these requirements. "The other thing too is that no matter how many policies and procedures are put in place, they will never cover every possible eventuality."

Clean-up crews collected over four tonnes of dead fish and bird life from the Manly Lagoon. Traces of the pesticide azinphosethyl found in the dead fish were 10 to 500 times the concentration that would cause their deaths

Warringah Golf Clubs defence was that it was the superintendents act that directly led to the spill. However, the club was found to not have the correct procedures or the proper facilities in place to help prevent such a disaster. Even more damning was club president Ron Newells admission that the board believed it had no responsibility in respect of environmental matters and that it delegated such authority to the likes of Coggins. As such, the fine imposed by the LEC should be enough for any golf course to sit up and take notice of their environmental responsibilities. "The deterrent that comes from this is of course the financial one $250,000 is quite a significant penalty but also in terms of credibility," says environmental protection officer John Dengate, from the recently formed Department of Environment and Conservation. "Golf courses have an image of being green and healthy and a nice place to spend some time pursuing the sport of golf, and in that sense golf clubs who have these sorts of impact on the local environment are risking more than just a financial side. They are risking their credibility and the very environment on which their industry depends.

Continued on page 12

The Warringah Verdict

Countdown to a Catastrophe
Friday, 9 February 2001 A member of the groundstaff notices pest damage, believed to be Argentine Stem Weevil, to the 5th green. Superintendent Craig Coggins instructs one of his employees to fill the clubs spray unit with approximately 20 litres of water to which he adds approximately two five-litre tins of Gusathion, containing 400g per litre of azinphos ethyl. Manufactured by Bayer, Gusathion - a Schedule 7 poison - was withdrawn from the market in 1998, and replaced by a safer and more effective active ingredient, imidacloprid. At the time of the offence, it was still lawful to use the product. Azinphos ethyl is a phosphorodithioate organophosphorous pesticide and seven grams (or 1 teaspoon) of it in an Olympic-sized swimming pool would destroy aquatic life within a matter of hours. (Azinphos methyl, also a Schedule 7 poison, is still sold by Bayer for use on fruit crops.) Employee Toni Nolan attempts to use the spray unit on the golf course but it fails to spray. The spray unit is returned to the workshop area. Monday, 12 February 2001 Coggins instructs employee Ben Hansen to spray the greens with the spray unit. The chemical solution was left in the spray unit over the weekend. Despite some mechanical problems Hansen is able to spray 10 greens. At 9am the spray unit fails completely. Hansen drives it to the workshop and parks it on a concrete slab in the workshop area for repairs. Hansen and another employee, John Edwards, attempt to rectify the defect with Coggins joining them. After unsuccessful calls to the manufacturer concerning the fault, Coggins decides that it is necessary to disconnect one of the hose lines and drain the tanks to determine the location of the blockage. Coggins instructs Hansen to remove the hose line. Hansen does so causing the chemical solution to flow across the concrete slab. Coggins hoses the liquid from the concrete slab so as to prevent his workers from coming into contact with it. The chemical solution moves along a depression in the ground adjacent to the concrete slab until it meets a grated stormwater drain that leads into Brookvale Creek that feeds into Manly Lagoon.
POISON

Tuesday, 13 February 2001 - Sunday, 18 February 2001 Full extent of the spill becomes evident as dead fish begin to wash up around the shores of the lagoon. Warringah and Manly councils call in special clean up teams to remove the dead marine and bird life. The EPA is called and begins what will eventually be a 10-month investigation with 80 potential witnesses. Environmental Consequences The spill resulted in the death of more than 10,000 fish including bream, snapper, mullet, Australian bass, herring, trevally, and eels. The Manly and Warringah councils collected more than 4.16 tonnes of dead fish and eels. It was estimated that at least 12 species of fish within the lagoon perished. Local residents also observed dead and dying ducks, cormorants, and herons. Azinphos ethyl was found in the waters of the creek and of the lagoon and in fish samples and in several ducks that died in the days and weeks following the fish kill. Tissue concentrations of azinphos ethyl in the dead fish collected on 13 February 2001 were 10 to 500 times the concentrations that would cause

their deaths.

Later that afternoon, local residents report hearing splashing noises.

POISON

The Warringah Verdict An Accident Waiting To Happen

"We have adopted an environmental management plan, but obviously we still have a lot of work to do. We dont see it as just a one-off thing. Weve got to continually improve it over time and improve ourselves." In handing down his verdict, Justice Talbot commented that the club faced "a financial dilemma". Airey, however, is adamant that the club, which has 890 members and clocks up between 72,000 and 75,000 rounds annually, will not close despite the huge financial burden it now faces. While admitting the financial ramifications will impact the club for at least the next decade, Airey says the fine imposed was fair, and while strong enough to send a message, was not too high to put the club out of business. The fine couldnt have come at a worse possible juncture for the club. For the past three years it has traded at a loss and a further loss of $190,000 is expected for the 2003 financial year. The financial difficulties hark back to 1999 and 2000 when the club carried out reconstruction of several holes and renovations to the clubhouse at a cost of $400,000. Airey says the club is currently assessing its options in regards to financing the fine and is likely to increase green fees and competition fees. For current superintendent Brett Maurice, who has worked at the club for the past 13 years, the verdict is also liberating and means he and his crew can close what has been an unfortunate chapter in the clubs history and get on with business. Maurice says that since the original incident a lot of work has been carried out at the compound and a number of new policies established to help improve working conditions. "Everything that has been asked of by the courts has been carried out or is in motion," says Maurice. "With all the strategies now in place there is absolutely no chance anything will happen again. Its all for the better. "I think the board has finally realised that there were issues that need to be addressed over at the shed and they are now much more aware of their environmental responsibilities." Since the incident the club has paid out $6,614.59 for bunding around the concrete slab, raising retaining walls around soil storage bays and constructing a new diesel storage area. The club has also brought in an engineering company to build a dedicated washdown bay, a pumped connection to the sewer and construction of a dedicated roofed and bunded chemical filling and emergency storage facility. The estimated cost of these works is upwards of $300,000.

Continued from page 10

Manly Lagoon

Residents reported strange splashing noises the afternoon of the spill. It wasnt until the following day that the full extent of the disaster was evident

Warringah Today So where is the Warringah Golf Club at almost three years after the incident? As far as general manager David Airey is concerned the club has accepted the LEC decision and is moving on. "There is a sense of relief that it is over," says Airey, who only started in the job two months before the original incident took place. "I wouldnt want to see this happen to any other golf club. It has been a tough two-and-ahalf years. You wouldnt wish it on anyone. "For us theres got to be a whole different way of doing business. We werent operating in a best practices manner. Its a wake up call for golf clubs and it is very important that other clubs learn from this. "The main lesson the club has learned is that the whole organisation has to be involved and have a knowledge of the operations and polices, especially written policies, and that staff are fully trained in those policies. "Everything has to be consistent and there needs to be good communication at all levels. The whole organisation from the top down needs to be aware, and not just rely on staff to make sure that everything is in place.

Draft plans for the washdown bay have been drawn up and a development application is currently before Warringah Council. In addition, the club has adopted a sitespecific environmental management strategy using the recently released AGCSA/EPA environmental manual as a guideline, while a separate OHS and environmental issues committee has been formed. Specific polices on machine washdown, chemical use and machine repair have also been adopted, while a chemical spill kit has been purchased and staff trained in its use. "It has been a difficult time," sums up Maurice on the past two years. "All the guys on staff now were there when the incident happened. The mood was very down for about three months but it was a matter of turning all the negatives into a positive. "We just have to accept it. We just have to do our best and the committee understands that. Its now time for the club with all the awareness this incident has created to move forward. "Its just unfortunate that we were the ones made an example of."

See Page 45 of this edition of ATM ACGSA, DEC Launch Environmental Management Manual for Golf Courses. Have your say! What are your thoughts on the Warringah Golf Club saga? Put pen to paper or finger to keyboard and send a letter to the editor. Correspondence can be sent to the AGCSA at Suite 1, Monash Corporate Centre, 752 Blackburn Rd, Clayton North, VIC 3168 or email brett@agcsa.com.au

The Warringah Verdict

Around the Traps - What Supers are Saying

TM caught up with five NSW-based superintendents to get their thoughts on the Warringah verdicts and

to take an active role, know what is going on and be aware that they are liable." 3. "I was already aware of the ramifications and potentials at my club. More so, it has raised the awareness of my staff, our golfing membership and the board of directors." Mark Parker Concord Golf Club 1. "I think the poor guy [Craig Coggins] went through more than he should have. It appeared to be an accident with no intent. We all make mistakes, with people having made far worse without ramifications. He was unlucky and

2. "That if you make a mistake, you have to rectify it as quick as possible by alerting the authorities, instead of putting your head in the sand. It seems that if things had been done a bit differently there might have been less consequences for the club and the superintendent." 3. "I took my president along to the AGCSA workshop in October at Pennant Hills. He had a few interesting looks on his face. Im pushing for some additions here and hes now one of my very strong supporters. The verdict has definitely raised the clubs awareness." Scott Lane Oatlands Golf Club 1. "I think it has opened a lot of guys eyes to what they can and cant do. Weve got a lot of stuff in place here at Oatlands so that sort of thing doesnt happen to us. But I probably think it was warranted. We need to be seen as a leader in the industry." 2. "The fines. Also, everyone needs to be made aware of what can happen. Even though you might not be on site, its still your responsibility. Youve got to make sure you train your staff correctly in all these types of things. The EPA and WorkCover laws are changing all the time and in places conflict, and I think as an industry we need to do something to keep us up to date. "Greenkeeping is not the same as it once was. Ive been in the game for more than 20 years but Im not really a greenkeeper any more. Im more an office manager. Im constantly in meetings, updating risk assessments and WorkCover stuff, and training staff. I only get to look at my course maybe once a week. Thats when I rely on my 2IC and 3IC to keep me up to date. "Everyone needs to made aware, especially the smaller country courses, because they could get themselves into a lot of trouble. Some of them simply dont have the resources and the manpower to commit to risk assessments. 3. "We are currently re-doing ours at the moment to keep it up to date as a result of the verdict.

the ramifications they have for the industry. Each superintendent was asked three questions; 1. What are your impressions of the verdict? 2. What was the most crucial point to come out of the cases that superintendents need to be aware of? 3. Have the verdicts made you look at your clubs environmental management plan and has it increased your awareness of your clubs environmental responsibility? Heres what they had to say. Bruce Carruthers Woodlands Country Club 1. "They [the verdicts] were handed down as an example of severity and to teach a big lesson to the industry by sending a warning that this is what could happen if you are not up to shape." 2. "The most crucial point is that superintendents need to be totally aware of the products they are handling, what they are doing with them, how they use them and how they dispose of them." 3. "Yes. This is a wake-up call for the industry not to be blas or apathetic towards the statutory rules that are in place." Norm Foord New Brighton Golf Club 1. "I think it was probably expected. They [the courts] were always going to make an example of this case to everyone by invoking pretty heavy penalties. Unfortunately it had to be a golf course. I guess it has been coming for a long time." 2. "That our stewardship and environmental awareness now has to be even more stringent with current legislation. Were probably more aware than most other horticulturalists of these issues, but it emphasises we need to be up to speed with the latest legislation in all areas regarding the environment. It emphasises the need for more professionalism. The other big point is that the board of directors now have

made a scapegoat. I think it also highlights societys growing intolerance of environmental mismanagement at certain levels, yet the hypocrisy surrounding far greater environmental disasters that occur daily and are allowed because it affects our wallets." 2. "I think vigilance and written documentation, particularly in regards to any OSH or environmental issues. You need to have everything documented at club committee meetings and carry out regular official meetings with your entire staff and document the minutes." 3. "My immediate reaction is to say no because I feel we are already proactive in that respect. We carried out an environmental audit some seven years ago, looking at what our systems are and what we do. But realistically yes it has. At the end of the day even though we carried out an audit, it makes you question, "Did we do it well enough, what else do I need to cover?" There wouldnt be any club in Sydney that didnt stop and think about it." Anthony Rowland Charlestown Golf Club 1. "Things went wrong and they werent turned around and rectified once they went wrong. Ignorance doesnt count anymore, basically. Its going to have a strong impact on the way people look at environmental issues across the board and committees will need to strongly enhance their awareness of such issues."

The Warringah Verdict

An Expert's Perspective
The conditions that contributed to the offence included: Permitting the handling of chemicals upon a concrete slab which had no bunding; Permitting the handling of chemicals near a stormwater grate, one which was not protected by bunding; Failing to provide the superintendent or any other employee with any or any sufficient instructions that chemicals were not to be handled in the vicinity of the concrete slab or the stormwater grate; Failing to provide the superintendent or any other employee with any or any sufficient instructions in relation to the handling of dangerous chemicals or chemical spill management procedures; Permitting the carrying out of repairs to equipment on an unbunded concrete slab and near a stormwater grate; Failing to erect bunding around the concrete slab and stormwater grate; Failing to install washdown bays; and Failing to provide the superintendent and other employees with spill prevention and containment plans and/or equipment. There is no doubt this incident was preventable. During the hearing the EPA submitted that on the basis of the facts proved in the case it is clear beyond argument that had the spill been contained on-site no environmental harm would have occurred or would have been likely to occur. It must, however, be stressed that many of the major environmental incidents that I have investigated result not from malice but from ignorance of the environmental impacts of individual actions or of ignorance of our obligations under the law. Had the club an appropriate environmental management program in place the likelihood of this incident could have been significantly reduced. This case exposes a number of weaknesses in the environmental management programs at many golf clubs; The absence of a systematic process of environmental management; There are no formal mechanisms to identify potential and actual problem areas; Failure to plan short and long term environmental goals and actions; Failure to identify appropriate operational controls and procedures; Some clubs fail to see the environment as a business issue; Failure to view environmental management as a public relations asset; Unable to realise that environmental programs can save money; Failure to integrate environmental management into daily operations. The case showed that the club did not have appropriate programs of environmental management in place at the time of the incident. As a result, the club was not in a position to; Reduce and manage environmental risk; Claim due diligence as a defence; Claim they exercised due diligence as a factor in mitigation; Reduce the likelihood of the club, its directors, managers and staff from being prosecuted. Unfortunately the absence of an environmental management program exposed the club and its employees to environmental legislation with heavy penalties and few defences. This case clearly demonstrates that environmental legislation throughout Australia can render golf clubs to criminal and civil liability. Golf clubs can also be liable for the acts of their employees and contractors. Had the club been duly diligent they would have identified, assessed and managed the specific environmental risks likely to be faced as a result of their activities. Environmental due diligence is an important corporate and individual environmental responsibility tool that the golfing industry is yet to fully embrace. Significantly, due diligence can be a defence to environmental criminal liability throughout the Australian jurisdiction. Importantly, it must also be regarded as an effective method for golf clubs to control and minimise environmental risks. Interestingly, although due diligence is a statutory provision in all but one Australian state, it is not defined in any of the legislation. The Courts will determine if due diligence has been exercised, but simply put, it is a master plan to demonstrate the golf club identified and assessed the specific environmental risks and designed and implemented a system to specifically manage those risks. There is no all-purpose list of magic steps to environmental due diligence but there are activities that golf clubs should be doing by taking every precaution reasonable. A due diligence program is process and systems based and will specify standards and procedures to be followed in managing environmental performance.

The Warringah case should send a huge warning to clubs to raise their level of environmental awareness

t the time of the Warringah incident I was working for the EPA as a specialist environmental investigator attached to their legal branch and following the incident I was part of a large investigative team. The EPA charged the club, being the occupier of the golf course, with negligently contributing, in a material respect, to the conditions that gave rise to Craig Coggins offence. This did not mean that the club "caused" Coggins offence; rather it meant that the club, through its own acts and omissions, created conditions that contributed to his offence. The court found that the club had been criminally negligent in that, among other things; 1. Poisonous chemicals, including pesticides, were frequently handled and mixed on a concrete slab in the greenkeepers compound; 2. The slab was near Brookvale Creek and adjacent to stormwater pits that lead to the creek; 3. The slab was not surrounded by a bund or other protective devices; 4. Little or no precautions had been taken by the club to prevent the escape of dangerous substances from the greenkeepers compound; and 5. The escape of the pesticide and the potential harm were foreseeable and it was an accident waiting to happen.

TERRY MUIR
It will identify, assess and control environmental risks and be complemented by a system of on-going management and review. The ultimate goal is to ensure individuals throughout golf clubs recognise their environmental responsibilities, are accountable for their actions, and demonstrate a sense of environmental ownership. Golf clubs who adopt this approach may not only demonstrate they have acted duly diligently but may also enhance the image of the industry by demonstrating that robust internal environmental performance criteria apply to all environmental decisions. One of the main aims of the Parliaments in criminalising environmental breaches in Australia is deterrence. As reported during the Warringah case, Justice Talbot commented, "The court should send a powerful message to sporting club operators, and in particular, golf clubs, that mismanagement or, particularly as in this case, abandonment of environmental responsibility will lead to condign punishment." The environmental performance of golf clubs must move with, and in some respects be in advance of, community and government expectations. Environmental responsibilities of golf clubs must be managed in the same manner as its fiduciary, economic, legal and human resource responsibilities. Golf club board members and senior managers must; Become familiar with environmental effects of all sections of their club; Identify staff who have responsibility for environmental management; Prepare an integrated environmental program; Keep a register of policy and legal requirements; Demonstrate environmental responsibility to employees and contractors; Exercise control over the actions of contractors; Maintain adequate records to demonstrate compliance with environmental requirements. For the golfing industry to work together and foster a culture of continuous improvement in environmental management, senior management at golf clubs must provide a selfimposed set of environmental rules for the carrying out of specific activities. They must take a leading role in setting minimum environmental standards and provide resources and support in developing practical measures to prevent and minimise the risk of environmental harm. The starting point is top management commitment because they define organisational goals and provide leadership and direction. They also make decisions and must view environmental management commitment as an opportunity to improve. The Warringah case also highlights that many activities at Australian golf courses involve inherent environmental risks that require ongoing management. These include natural resource consumption, chemical and waste storage, air, noise, soil and water pollution. While there is no fool-proof plan to guarantee the prevention of environmental incidents, the golfing industry must commit to an holistic approach of environmental risk management using simple risk management tools that enhance environmental decision-making, accountability, responsibility and defensibility. The environmental programs at golf clubs are constantly in need of evaluation or improvement. The Court found beyond reasonable doubt that the club itself breached its duty to take reasonable steps to avoid or minimise harm to the environment. It negligently, and in a material respect, contributed to the conditions that gave rise to the commission of the offence by its employee. This is because it failed to implement fundamental safeguards and procedures to protect the environment from harm in the event of an accident or the careless or negligent performance by an employee. Sadly, the golfing industry stands atop the list of offenders in NSW, along with the Karuah Caravan Park case (the defendant was sentenced to 12 months jail), as the equal highest fine imposed in any single environmental investigation in NSW. Already, the EPA and local councils in NSW have commenced audits and site inspections of golf clubs and there is no doubt the industry will be closely scrutinised by environmental regulators. Clubs now need to review their environmental status taking into consideration environmental records, reports, materials, work procedures and staff, and making it a priority to inspect the site to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current way of managing the environment.
Terry Muir was an investigating officer for the EPA during the Warringah Golf Club and Craig Coggins cases. He now runs his own environmental management consultancy called Environmental Business Solutions.